PLNA Supports Legislative Changes to Overtime Rule

HARRISBURG – PLNA has signed onto a letter in support of Congressman Kurt Schrader’s bill (H.R 5813) to soften the impact of the overtime regulations recently implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). See PLNA e-News article June 1, 2016 for more information on the rule. AmericanHort drafted the letter that was supported by 34 other green industry associations.

Using the administration’s effective date of December 1, 2016 for the regulations, the Overtime Reform and Enhancement Act cuts the DOL planned increase of the overtime threshold from $47,476 annually ($913 per week) in the regulations to $35,984 ($692 per week). After the initial increase in 2016, the bill will initiate a reasonable three-year phase-in until the DOL’s salary threshold of $47,476 ($913 per week) is met.

The annual increases under the bill are:

·December 1, 2016 -- $35,984 ($692 per week)

·December 1, 2017 -- $39,780 ($765 per week)

·December 1, 2018 -- $43,628 ($839 per week)

·December 1, 2019 -- $47,476 ($913 per week)

The bill also eliminates the automatic three-year increase to the salary threshold established under the new rule. The bill recognizes that future administrations can and should update the overtime rules, as they are required to under the Fair Labor Standards Act, but limits the ability of the DOL to update the rules on autopilot. This will allow stakeholders to comment on proposed changes and require the DOL to ensure the rules are working as intended.